Yesterday was very amazing! Rain and clouds always make me super happy, but sadly during the nicest part of the day I was unable to go out and try shooting! I did however try to go shooting on my way home that morning (before the storm broke up, and the dramatic clouds scattered the sky). I decided to go the back way to Laurel, and check out the Yellowstone River. As I was driving, I found a really cool section of river with a nice background (free of signs of people), a nice beach, and really vibrant trees canopying over the water. I drove a bit further and found a pull out, grabbed my gear, and started hiking back toward the river.
Maybe I'm just a big baby, but I like to blame it on the weather and my lack of proper elemental protection...in other words it was rainy, and I was not dressed properly (wait...didn't we read about that like the first week??). I walked to the place I first noticed the scene...and realized it was in the middle of the bridge...(I'm an idiot sometimes), and with my camera's lens some house on the bluffs above the river could not be cut out. I then realized, the only way I could get the shot was to wade into the middle of the river, and take it from that vantage point (I'm probably over exaggerating if I would have spent some time I might have found a way to get a nice shot). I was tired of holding the umbrella above my camera, and my glasses being constantly bombarded with rain...so like the man I am, I simply gave up and went home.
At home I was thinking about how the heck some photographers get the shots they do, (be it in storms, water, near dangerous animals, or what ever potentially difficult setting you can think of) and how I could learn how to get the shot I want, without having little things get in the way. My first thought was, if I had just brought my photo vest I would have been set! It's like Batman's utility belt right...? OK in all seriousness though, how do you get a unique shot, when the world is in the way!
Well, on the subject of rain, the website below has some tips on shooting in the rain, and how it can be used.
http://www.thephotoargus.com/tips/great-tips-for-shooting-in-the-rain/
This guy doesn't really have any photos of what he did, but you can get an idea of what you need to do for a good shot. Think outside of the box, and not be afraid to spend time doing what you have to do for the shot! Even if that means almost being struck by lightning!(Not really... I've been caught in thunderstorms before...I will probably avoid going willingly head first into one.)
http://kentweakley.com/blog/things-done-for-photo/
http://www.thephotoargus.com/inspiration/42-awe-inspiring-photos-of-extreme-weather/
I found it hard to get actual examples of people getting crazy shots (maybe that's because no one is crazy enough to take pictures of someone trying to get the shot of tornado ,or a hurricane, or what ever it may be). But this video, although goofy, does an okay job at getting to my point. You have to be willing to do something unique, to get a unique shot!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRb-G8YTqFg
The photographer standing next to the lion is definitely photo shopped so I'm not responsible for anyone being eaten by wild mountain beasts. :P
This little article I found I thought was useful. It was a great reminder of what we already learned about gear safety, and had some nice new tips I think might come in handy in the future.
http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-protect-your-camera-in-extreme-conditions
http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/images/stories/2012/nov/reeder/lead.jpg
